Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

I grateful to the hon. Members for Bournemouth, West (Sir John Butterfill), for North-West Cambridgeshire (Mr. Vara) and for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) for the general welcome that they have given our proposals. I do not need to say much more about them. The hon. Member for Bournemouth, West was good enough to accept my explanations in respect of his amendments (a) to amendment 76, (b) to amendment 74, (a) and (b) to amendment 80, and amendments 91 and 92. A total of six amendments refer to only two issues, the substitution of "benefits" for "pensions" and the issue of a trust scheme. I hope that in both instances my explanations have been adequate. The hon. Gentleman was also good enough to confirm the view of the trustees, which I know is also the view of the whole House—I paraphrase his words—that we should stick faithfully to recommendation 43 of the Kelly report, which states:""The independent regulator should… therefore be given statutory responsibility for setting MPs' pay levels and overseeing MPs' pensions"." The recommendation is more explicit about IPSA's power to set the terms and oversee the administration of parliamentary pensions. I believe that our proposals achieve the necessary balance. What I am about to say is almost otiose, but it may just be worth my saying it. If it transpires following the election—it will have to be then, but I hope that this will become law—that because of the speed with which we have had to undertake these measures there are some glitches in the drafting, the House will have to return to the matter. However, given the explanations offered by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West on behalf of the trustees and those offered by me, and given the spirit in which the changes are being made, I hope that that will not be necessary. Amendment 55 agreed to.